Sasha Shadows

Complicated and scared.

These are the only feelings ghosting around my mind although I've possessed the ability to finish things faster, including my undone assignments and latest story chapters. My fingers are typing on the laptop keyboard in an indescribably fast speed and the whole wish accomplishing process is just terrifying me.

After knowing the dark secret hidden behind the truth, I'd no longer found enjoyment when it comes to granting those remaining wishes. Ever since I've submitted the seminar essay, I switch to the other file written with my unfinished novel and begin typing the remaining storylines. The ideas flow through my head vigorously like the wave of the sea, pulling me away from writer's block.

As a result, not only that I manage to publish all the three remaining chapters in one day, or night because it's already night time now, I even have the strength and ability to dm all my readers and followers to show my gratitude to them. Yes, you've not heard wrong. All of them.

Although not all readers and fans reveal themselves saying that they'd been supporting me and reading my book, I just happen to know where the faithful readers are hiding. Maybe it is due to my spiritual sight; maybe it is due to my own instinct...

And true enough, the more I trust my own six sense the larger the impact I give to my readers. Resultantly, most of the feedbacks show how happy and grateful these people are when they find themselves being noticed by senpai.

"Need help, big sis?" Isabelle asks with her legs crossed when she lies on the couch.

"It's okay, I can handle this," I smile. "Thanks for the offer by the way."

She waves in return. "Don't mention it, it's your choice to make anyway."

Pouting, I shrug before turning back to the laptop screen. My fingers keep typing faster than my usual speed which has turned unsurprising for me, because 30 minutes of such continuous incident have gotten me habituated.

Those positive replies pasted on the screen are slowly peeling off the negative feelings clinging onto me, which leads out my warm smile. Ignoring how tired my fingers are screaming right now, the only thing I wanna do is to thank all of them. For making me feel loved. For making my book a wonderland instead of a wasteland.

Apparently, these lovely people are the ones to fill in those blanks that makes the book worth reading and writing; to solve the puzzles of my shattered heart into one; to fire up the ideas hibernated underneath my brain and turn them into live. Suddenly, a message catches my view, making me click into my chatroom with the platform user.

clecartwrt: omg, thanks for notice me senpai. I'd been waiting for your update these days. You write good books, I admire you <3

A gasp leaves my mouth agape until my action finally stops. My eyes fix on the brief reply sent by this one person. To be honest, I'd texted so many readers lately and this person is like a key to the padlock chaining around my heart, unlocking it and setting it free. I can feel it pulsing faster until my heartbeat is the only thing I can hear.

Excitement is what I feel as I can hear my instinct screaming "this is Clerence Cartwright" for a dozen times. I remember watching him wait for my new update and I remember his username as well. He is a reader. My silent reader as he barely comments on stories he read. However, he always votes on the chapters after finished reading them.

The only thing that makes him visible to the authors is when he keeps those books to his reading list. Sadly, he haven't kept mine in his so this is why it takes so long for me to notice him, and ironically, when I'm stuck in this invisible form.

It must be because my book is still ongoing, as I can see all the books added to his reading list are all completed treasures.

shadowriter_: I'm truly glad to hear that. By the way, why are you sounding so alike as someone I know?

As I'm certain this is the right person, I suddenly come out with an idea to make him say anything about his feelings or somebody he knows. Curiosity sometimes gets the best of me and I really can't help it. Just like Kayla, the bitch.

clecartwrt: what create this idea in that beautiful head of yours, senpai?

Still in his flirtatious way, huh? Should I expose him and tell him how much I love him?

Due to my own inner battle, my fingers stop in place when I try to think of other ways to let him admit himself.

"Tell him about the pine trees, Sasha," Isabelle's sudden emergence beside me makes me squeak. Consequently, I hop away from the seat and my butt lands on the ground so hard until I scream silently. "Tell him how those pine trees look familiar to you."

"Geez," I cringe at the idea when crawling back to the chair. "This is the lamest excuse I've ever had. Plus, I'd never visited his place in real life, so this will end up creepy." I deny with my index fingers jerking from left to right and then back again numerous times, my logic thinking tells me this action is a big no-no.

***

Clerence Cartwright

Phew, that was close.

Madam Jesslyn almost caught me texting in the midst of my duty when she walked pass the shelves I'm supposed to arrange. If it was not because of her cell phone ringing, I wouldn't lift up my head to see her nearing.

As fast as lighting, I stuffed my phone into my pocket before she stood right in front of me, watching my every move when I pretended to be busy.

"I told you to rearrange Young Adult Reads and the Tutorial books before I get back, Cartwright. What have you done so far?" The she-Devil asks with her arms crossed.

Nothing. I'd done nothing aside from texting with my favourite author online. Hence, I keep quiet while chewing on my bottom lip.

"One last chance I'm giving to you," she warns with her left index finger pointed upwards. Her eyes hold mine sternly. Until I nod with a serious expression (like a damn dog), she finally leaves.

My phone doesn't vibrate and nor does it rings out shortly with a notification ringtone. Partly as I've wished, it stays quietly in my pocket when I do my job.

The ladder reminds me of the girl, but I use it as a tool to keep me busy, to distract my thoughts from focusing on this one certain thing. The rollers make the ladder sing when I exchange the places of these books as assigned by Madam Jesslyn. I don't know how long I've been busy, really busy. I just know I'm really hot, and I'm sweating right now. The collared shirt is not helping and this makes me wanna take it off.

Maybe I should take it off for a while.

When I'm in my own house.

This desire is not going to be fulfilled here, so I walk towards the counter where cool but dry air exists. "Cool place," I comment while swinging my shirt, indicating I'm still uncomfortable with my sticky sweat. "Can I borrow this counter for a minute?" The girl who works at the counter tonight stutters so hard when I send a wink to her. So, without waiting for her to say the positive word - "yes", "okay", whatever – I bend a little and lay my head on my arms, as if I'm sleeping in class but this time, I'm standing. At the same time, she doesn't deny my request as well.

I am irresistible and I know it.

The cool air smashes unmercifully at my face until I can no longer feel the sweaty sensation in my shirt. "Cartwright!!" It is not the girl, but Madam Jesslyn who almost makes me jump from the counter and hit someone. Her voice is so loud that I can tell she won't need a microphone while having a public speech.

"Yess??!" I yell back in a friendly way.

"You better come back this instant before I decide to fire you, young man!!" Without a second thought, I race towards the voice source and eventually stands right in front of the she-Devil. Apparently, she does not look happy upon my attitude of leaving my position. "And lucky for you, you arranged the shelves nicely. Well done," she gives me a pat on the back when a mere smile illustrates her stern and dull face, having me dumbfounded.

"T-Thank you, Madam Jesslyn," I chuckle nervously upon the she-boss' mood swings. After a few more pats-on-the-back of warning, she gives me a 'don't test me' smile before leaving the position I'm responsible with tonight.

Oh Sasha, when the heck are you going to wake up and save me from this hellish person?

With my mind clouded with the thought above, I can't help but shake my head in sorrow, though I'm grinning wearily on the outside. My phone rings with notification at the moment but I choose not to answer.

I have to prevent myself from being fired.

To stay here and wait for her.

ᵟᵁᴱˢᵀᴵᴼᴺˢ ᴬˢᴷᴱᴰ ᵀᴼ ᴹᴬᴷᴱ ᶠᴿᴵᴱᴺᴰˢ:

1. ᵂᴴᴬᵀ ᴰᴼ ᵞᴼᵁ ᵀᴴᴵᴺᴷ ᴵˢ ᵀᴴᴱ ᶜᴬᵁˢᴱ ᴼᶠ ᴰᴱˢᴾᴱᴿᴬᵀᴵᴼᴺ ᶠᴼᴿ ᶜᴸᴱᴿᴱᴺᶜᴱ ᵀᴼ ᵂᴬᴵᵀ ᶠᴼᴿ ˢᴬˢᴴᴬ? ᵂᴴᵞ ᴴᴱᴿ?

2. ᴰᴼ ᵞᴼᵁ ᵂᴵˢᴴ ˢᴬˢᴴᴬ ᵂᴵᴸᴸ ᵂᴬᴷᴱ ᵁᴾ? ᴼᴿ ˢᵀᴬᵞ ᴬˢᴸᴱᴱᴾ ᶠᴼᴿᴱᵛᴱᴿ?

ᵀᴴᴬᴺᴷ ᵞᴼᵁ ˢᴼ ᴹᵁᶜᴴ ᶠᴼᴿ ᴿᴱᴬᴰᴵᴺᴳ. ᴵᵀ'ˢ ᴮᴱᴱᴺ ᵀᴴᴱ 16ᵀᴴ ᶜᴴᴬᴾᵀᴱᴿ ᴬᴺᴰ ᴵ ᴮᴱᴸᴵᴱᵛᴱ ᵀᴴᴵˢ ˢᵀᴼᴿᵞ ᵂᴵᴸᴸ ˢᴼᴼᴺ ᶜᴼᴹᴱ ᵀᴼ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴱᴺᴰ.  ᴰᴼᴺ'ᵀ ᶠᴼᴿᴳᴱᵀ ᵀᴼ ᴸᴵᴳᴴᵀ ᵁᴾ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴸᴵᵀᵀᴸᴱ ˢᵀᴬᴿ ᴬᵀ ᵀᴴᴱ ᶜᴼᴿᴺᴱᴿ ᴬᶠᵀᴱᴿ ᴿᴱᴬᴰᴵᴺᴳ (ᴼᴺᴸᵞ ᴵᶠ ᵞᴼᵁ ᵀᴴᴵᴺᴷ ᵀᴴᴵˢ ᶜᴴᴬᴾᴾᴵᴱ ᴵˢ ᵂᴼᴿᵀᴴ ᵛᴼᵀᴵᴺᴳ) ᴬᴺᴰ ᵂᴱ'ᴸᴸ ᴹᴱᴱᵀ ᴬᴳᴬᴵᴺ ᴵᴺ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴺᴱˣᵀ ᵁᴾᴰᴬᵀᴱ 💕💕💕